EXCEPT we want to deceive ourselves, the reality on ground on who becomes the next governor of Ogun State is between the incumbent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his often rival, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Amosun is from Ogun Central Senatorial District while Isiaka hails from Ogun West, the senatorial district that has been agitating for the exalted seat in the last 39 years of the birth of the Gateway State.
DAILY, I am bombarded with text messages on my MTN line why I, and by extension the residents of the Gateway State, should not vote for SIA, but that GNI is the way to go. There are other gangrenous disparaging text messages full of unsubstantiated allegations against Amosun, deliberately sent to dissuade voters from voting for the governor for second term.
THE texts were from known and bogus groups claiming to be working for the victory of GNI, who contested against the governor in the 2011 election on the platform of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). PPN was a break-away branch of the PDP, funded by ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel who recently castigated the people of Ogun State on a Rockcity FM radio programme as “educated in terms of going to school but in terms of enlightenment, they’re not enlightened…(and they’re) naïve, were ignorant, and were gullible”.
WITHOUT doubt, I’m close to SIA just like GNI. I know their antecedents in their areas of public service. And I know the agitation of Yewa-Awori (Ogun West) to produce a governor, the move I stridently supports till date.
HOWEVER, despite the fact that I know some would abuse, vilify, label and embark on campaign of calumny and character destruction against me, I will still speak my mind, not minding whose ox is gored.
AS it stands today, Amosun is the way to go. Not that SIA is a perfect governor. No! No one is perfect anyway, but with the present reality and for the overall interest and betterment of my home state, my plea with my people is to return Amosun to office, despite his personal shortcomings and his administration.
IN short, we cannot afford to be in opposition under the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari government that Ogun people worked hard to install. No way, not in our best interest.
ALREADY, Ogun State has two APC and one PDP senators, seven APC and two PDP House of Reps members. This legislative platform would provide credible avenue for the state to demand for its rightful inheritance in the scheme of the new progressive federal government patrimony.
COME to think of it, the brain behind the conception, sustenance and birth of APC – as a formidable opposition to the PDP – and delivery of victory at the March 28, 2015 polls, was a powerful force which Ogun played eminent roles. Remember the Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is an Ogun indigene from Ikenne, the hometown of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. For memory sake, you’ll recall that his younger brother, Akin Osinbajo, served as the Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner under Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration.
SINCERELY speaking, this is not the time to be in opposition, or confrontation, with the federal government. There are federal benefits for Ogun State via the roles played by its erudite citizens, led by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, in the victory of Buhari. However, do you think Obasanjo would allow PDP, the party that stridently castigated and embarrassed him, (led by President Goodluck Jonathan and his attack dogs of Doyin Okupe, Femi Fani-Kayode, Reuben Abati and Ayo Fayose, amongst others) that led to his angrily tearing his membership card openly, win in Ogun State?
ARE you similarly under the illusion that Obasanjo, the Owu generalissimo, would open his eyes wide and allow PDP, which harbours ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel and Buruji Kasahamu, two arch “enemies” of the former president, win the Okemosan seat at this point in time, even if GNI is a good material on his own?
Besides, SIA has done a lot of work (to the utmost best of his abilities) to improve the state, via the IGR, the major cities dotted with the construction and expansion of roads and bridges amongst many. Indeed, few of the royal fathers, Alake and Awujale hailed SIA’s prodigy in this respect. And SIA himself has promised to do more.
BUT, the big job left is for you and I to be alive to our responsibilities. Let us be alive to wake up Amosun’s government by doing the needful. Let us urge our lawmakers to do the needful by scrutinizing and keeping eagle eyes on SIA’s administration, not to act as rubberstamps to all his policies.
AND as patriotic citizens let’s shout where necessary and expose any injurious move or projects that would impact negatively on the state, but not hearsay or propaganda or “political ziggy.” This is where the like of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Iziaq Oloyede and others, should use their connections to keep eagle eyes on the governor and his administration. Please produce concrete pieces of evidence of maladministration and corruption in government, not propaganda. And in unison let us rise against any attempt to swindle the state. That is the civilized way to go.
HOWEVER, I must emphasise it that truly this is the time for SIA too to amend his ways. There is no smoke without fire. And as we say in journalism, there is often an element of truth in every rumour. Therefore, the governor should look into myriad of accusations and allegations of headiness, kowtow to family superiority in the running of the state’s affairs, and others if indeed they are absolute truth, and adjust immediately where necessary.
FOR instance, deducting workers cooperative dues without remittance to the appropriate quarters is detestable, unexplainable and uncharitable. Though there is fall is federal allocation which made the state to be financially leprosied, but then salaries of workers, and deduction like this, should not be toyed with.
INDEED, it must be stressed that not many indigenes of Ogun would be happy to see the “indirect comeback” of Daniel to power, through GNI, particularly to witness any reprisal vindictiveness against SIA administration (an allegation made against SIA by PDP and OGD supporters on his assumption of office). And a large chunk of our people would be miles away from any administration identified with Buruji Kashamu, a man in conflict with Obasanjo, coupled with his alleged “uncleaned” record over drugs related offences in US. Buruji was similarly alleged to have entered into occult contract and monetary pledge with GNI, an issue that people put on the table during schmoozing.
THE best bet, though many incendiary, die-hard, autochthonous and irredentist Ogun West apologists would not concur with me, for a candidate from that senatorial district to be the governor of our dear state is 2019. To add more, I am not deeply sure an alliance between Social Democratic Party (SDP) and PDP now (as being rumoured) would guarantee victory in Saturday polls for GNI.
INSTEAD, all machinery should be deployed in four years time to ensure Ogun West produce the next governor without equivocation for the peaceful, mutual and cordial coexistence of the three major senatorial districts in Ogun State.
TO me, GNI has all it takes to be the first Ogun West indigene to occupy the exalted Okemosan seat, but the expediency on ground does not favour a change, but continuity of Amosun’s administration, except there is divine intervention from above for a definitive purpose in the Gateway State.
* Shodunke, former Deputy Editor, Nigerian Compass newspaper, is the President, Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc.
